A lot of people seem to think that since I am a touring “pro” guitarist with recordings and DVDs that I am “the expert” and that’s the end. Not the case! The truth is that I love studying, learning and practicing.
For example – over the last 2 weeks I’ve read 5 books on marketing, ad copyrighting and web technology – and I plan to re-read them because the info was so good.
Oh Goodness, Heavens Gracious! Did Adam the guitar player just admit this?
Yes! All this stuff other than playing guitar is also important for me to keep up on. They all serve my music, touring and career!
Discovering and realizing new things – musical and otherwise – is the fun part of the journey. See what I am saying?
Here’s some great advice that I’d like to pass on from Brian Tracy – and this helps me keep my mind fresh in the way I have described…
Read 30 minutes in your field each morning. This is called “The Golden Hour” when the mind is clear, receptive and the day’s “tone” is set. After a year – that’s a lot of reading. Just think how much you’d learn.
The more you read and learn, the more you want to read and learn. Like a muscle, the mind gets stronger when it’s used and weaker when it’s not.
Adam’s Advice:
Don’t check your email first thing in the morning. That’s right! – wait. That’s a “reactive” activity as opposed to an active one.
If you are spending senseless time on video games, news sites, entertainment, and sites like Facebook, fiddling with your “smart” phone – just say NO and set that time aside and read 30 minutes every morning.
Watch what happens to your life in a month.
Rock on!
Adam Rafferty - Guitar and Spirit 
February 3, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Really appreciate your emails and insight!
Rex
February 3, 2012 at 4:30 pm
thank you Adam, I will do it.
February 3, 2012 at 7:26 pm
Adam,
this simple advise is so much more than a great guitar show only and worth to be spread into the world!
Thank you mate and see you soon!
Cheers Bernd
February 3, 2012 at 10:13 pm
I will try it out – 30 minutes, I think I can do that! Thanks Adam, I’ll tell how it worked!
Cheers, Hansel
February 12, 2012 at 8:08 pm
Hi Adam, good thing, I already do so in the morning (and the evening as well;-) Reading ´bout music, learning from the others, the best deal to prepare for practising. I love reading how other centuries´composers thought about music and “marketing”. Mozart was the first who had the idea of getting paid for a composition whenever it´s performed, not only once. They got money only once for the work itself, but the next evening of an opera event wasn´t paid anymore;-)
Cheers from Germany, Frank